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In July, Greenpeace targeted coal ships in Queensland, painting them with climate messages to the government. The government plans to expand coal exports when the world is trying to cut global emissions.
Enlarge imageThis weak 5% target to reduce emissions fails those who voted for Mr Rudd because he promised action on climate change.
He betrays the science and betrays the next generation who will have to live with climate change impacts.
This 5% target condemns us to losing the Murray-Darling, the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu National Park.
Here's what the government should do
Tiny target already pointless
In the plan announced today, our emissions will actually rise over the next five years under the carbon pollution scheme.
The $580 million plan to expand Newcastle coal exports will pump so much greenhouse pollution into the atmosphere that it cancels out the 5% emissions reduction target 10 times over.
Mr Rudd says that he may increase Australia's target to 15% if other countries announce strong targets. But this is way below the range of 25-40% agreed for developed nations in Bali.
Bullying tactics
Mr Rudd has caved in to the bullying tactics of the coal and other polluting industries.
The emission trading scheme is:
- giving billions of dollars in compensation and free permits to the fossil fuel industry
- expanding the coal industry
- building new coal-fired power stations.
Mr Rudd has said 25% of the permits will be given away to the biggest polluters at a cost of $7.4 billion. The coal industry will receive another $5 billion in handouts over the next five years.
Right off balance
Mr Rudd’s claim that he is getting the balance right is ridiculous.
Australia needs incentive to spark revolution in the way we produce and use energy. The Rudd plan won't do this and it even undermines chances for a global deal on climate change next year.
When coal-fired power industries and other polluters get billion-dollar handouts of public money, they have no incentive to change. Meanwhile renewable industries shed jobs or head offshore.
All quiet in Poznan
The UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland ended with little progress made. Greenpeace campaigners in Poznan reported that the Australian delegation refused to talk, refused to commit, refused to act. Their silence was deafening.
One more chance
There’s still time for the Rudd Government to commit to 25-40% emissions reduction - the bare minimum science tells us is necessary.
There’s still time for a global action plan to be agreed at major UN climate talks in Copenhagen, December 2009.
There's still time for you to take action and join the Energy [R]evolution in 2009.
Read the report
